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SEIA is the solar energy industry’s go-to source for the latest coverage on solar power, including U.S. and international policy, research and polls, business and financing trends, and more. Our staff strives to support the media covering solar energy issues and guide our members on effective media outreach with clear statements, background materials, news and multimedia resources.

SEIA is committed to informing policymakers, the media, and the American public about the benefits of solar energy for today’s communities, our economy, and our country.

Sunrun, fresh off of its IPO announcement, has something else to celebrate. In the first quarter of the year, it installed more residential solar than any other firm not named SolarCity or Vivint Solar.

PV module manufacturer Vikram Solar, announced today that the company has signed a master distribution agreement for residential and commercial PV installations with a leading US solar wholesaler, Clean Energy Distribution of Denver.

Circular Energy, a national provider of solar energy solutions for commercial and industrial customers, is proud to announce their expansion into the Northeastern United States, with a focus on Massachusetts, New York, Connecticut, and New Jersey.

Every week, The SEIA Solar Update includes top news stories covering the solar industry, major upcoming events, policy updates, and much more. This newsletter is open to SEIA Members and to the general public.

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Georgia Gov. Nathan Deal has signed into law consensus legislation which will make it easier and more affordable for homeowners, businesses, churches, schools, nonprofits, military facilities, and police and fire departments to install rooftop solar systems across the state. The Solar Power Free Market Financing Act is considered an important victory for property rights supporters, as well as solar advocates – and represents a bellwether of change in Georgia.

Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, announced today that SunLink Corporation, a leading commercial photovoltaic (PV) mounting system and solar project solutions company, has joined SEIA's board. SunLink, a California-based company, is a leader in driving the innovations that make solar easier, safer, more reliable and less expensive to install. SEIA President and CEO Rhone Resch said SunLink's proven success can be measured on commercial and utility-scale projects across North America – including many in the world's most extreme environments.

Calling it a “key step” in New York’s ongoing efforts to expand the use of clean solar energy statewide, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) is predicting that this week’s launch of the NY-Sun Commercial/Industrial MW Block Incentive Program will help to create hundreds of new jobs and spur economic development statewide.

Boston - The Mass Solar Coalition, an alliance of solar and clean energy industry organizations, businesses and solar and environmental advocates, commended the work of the Net Metering and Solar Task Force, which sent a final report to the State Legislature Friday with recommendations on the future of solar policy in the Commonwealth.

As part of Joining Forces, an initiative launched by First Lady Michelle Obama and Dr. Jill Biden to rally support for U.S. service members, veterans and their families, the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA) today committed to having 50,000 veterans working in solar by 2020. The First Lady shared the news at an event this afternoon in Manassas, Virginia, which was part of a commitment made by several high-growth sectors of the U.S. economy, including solar.

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SMA led the U.S. inverter market in 2014, shipping 24 percent of all inverters sold within the United States. In the same time period, Advanced Energy ranked third, shipping 17 percent of inverters sold in the U.S.

Every week, The SEIA Solar Update includes top news stories covering the solar industry, major upcoming events, policy updates, and much more. This newsletter is open to SEIA Members and to the general public.

Pages

What would Alexandre Edmond Becquerel be thinking now? In 1839, at the age of just 19, Becquerel built the world’s first photovoltaic panel, later inspiring the imaginations of millions of people worldwide, including legendary scientist Albert Einstein. Still, it took another 115 years before Bell Labs invented the first modern silicon solar cell. By comparison, it’s no stretch to say that the solar timeline has rocketed forward at warp speed in recent years.

With the coldest winter in two decades gripping much of the country this year – and wild price swings for natural gas rattling the markets, not to mention American consumers – it’s easy for many people to overlook the “hot start” in 2014 for solar energy.

But so far this year, it’s been good news followed by even more good news for the U.S. solar industry.

On January 24, 1848 – 166 years ago today – a discovery was made at a place called Sutter’s Sawmill that would change the course of California and even American history. Gold was discovered near the old sawmill, setting off the California gold rush.

Today SEIA, along with the more than 1,000 member companies, celebrates the association’s 40th anniversary. With over 12 years in the solar industry, I can say it is amazing to see all that we have accomplished so far.

On January 24, 1974 – with Richard Nixon in the White House, but knee deep in the Watergate scandal – five people met in the noisy basement of the Washington Hilton to discuss the possibility of establishing an association for the nascent solar energy industry.

They agreed to create "a broad-based trade association supporting prompt, orderly, widespread and open growth of solar energy resources." This was the beginning of the Solar Energy Industries Association’s (SEIA) four decades of successful advocacy.

As the third most populous state in the nation, New York has a huge upside when it comes to developing renewable energy sources – and that fact hasn’t been lost on Gov. Andrew Cuomo. On Wednesday, during his 2014 State of the State Address, the Governor confirmed that solar energy remains a priority for his administration.

Today, I was asked to take part in an online discussion on Capitol Hill as to whether Congress should extend renewable energy tax credits? Well, in some ways, this discussion is putting the cart before the horse. Most importantly, are incentives for renewable energy sources achieving their goals? In the case of solar, the answer is a resounding yes.

When it comes to renewable energy, you could call it the “shot heard round the world.” According to a new report by GTM Research and the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA), the U.S. installed 930 megawatts (MW) of photovoltaics (PV) in Q3 2013, up 20 percent over Q2 2013 and 35 percent over Q3 2012. This represents the second largest quarter in the history of the U.S. solar market and the largest quarter ever for residential PV installations.